Strip registering device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April E6, @35 R J. BEUTEL.

STRIP REGISTERING DEVICE Filed May 17, 1932 pri 316, 1935 R J, BEUTELSTRIP REGISTERING DEVICE Filed May 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SN @mINI/ENTOR A TTOH/VEV Patented Apr. 16,' 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICESTRIP REGISTERING DEVICE Application May 17, 1932, Serial No. 611,909

13 Claims.

'ihis invention relates to an improvement in strip registering devicesfor Wrapping machines, its main object being to provide means forstopping the feeding of a continuous web of wrapping 5 material to bringthe recurring printed design thereon into predetermined position, sothat the printing will appear in the same relative position on allarticles wrapped by said web.

This object in the present invention is achieve by combining the circuitof a light-sensitive bridge" or photoelectric cell, placed inlightreceiving position with respect to the printed web, through asuitable relay with an electromagnetic clutch in such a manner that theelectromagnet not only disconnects the wrapper feed when the printeddesign on the wrapper web intercepts the light projected onto thephotoelectric cell, but also acts as a brake for immediately stoppingthe feed motion and arresting the same during a predetermined portion ofthe operating cycle during which the web is cut and the cut blank iscarried away by the article to be Wrapped. By this means accurateregistration of the wrapper is effected. With these .and other objectsnot specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certainconstructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and thenspecifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:Fig. l is an end elevation of a portion of a cigar enveloping machine ofusual construction equipped with the photoelectric electromagneticregistering device; Fig. 2 is a detail view on line 2-2 of Fig. l,showing the manner of supporting the photoelectric unit; Fig. 3 is a topview of the mechanism shown in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a sectional sideelevation on lines 4--4 of Fig. 3 showing a rotary contact maker forkeeping the brake electromagnet in circuit during a portion of theoperating cycle; and Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electrical circuitsshowing the electrical interconnection of the various parts.

In carrying the invention intoseffect there is provided means forfeeding a web of Wrapping material having a recurrent design thereon, asource of light arranged to project light onto said web, a photoelectriccell arranged to be ,illuminated by the light projected onto said web,electromagnetic clutch mechanism for stopping the web feeding means whena design on said web intercepts the light projected thereon, and anelectrical circuit adapted to be closed by said clutch mechanism forcausing the latter to act as a brake on said web feeding means and holdit immovable for a predetermined interval of time. In the best forms ofconstruction contemplated said web feeding mechanism includes a pair ofcooperating feed rollers, intermeshing 5 gears on said rollers, a, shaftdriven by said clutch mechanism, a bevel gear on said shaft and a bevelgear on one of said feed rollers meshing with the bevel gear on saidshaft. In the best forms of construction contemplated, also, said clutchmechanism includes a continuously rotating drive shaft, a driven shaft,clutch members on said shafts, and an electromagnet adapted to beenergized when the design on the web intercepts the light projected ontothe photoelectric cell to disengage the clutch members, and saidelectrical circuit includes a spring contact adapted to be closed whensaid clutch members are .disengaged and a rotary contact member foropening said electrical circuit.r There is also preferably providedmeans for severing the web during the interval that it is stopped. Thesevarious means and parts may be widely varied in construction within thescope of the claims for the particular machine selected to illustratethe invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments o-f thesame. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specificconstruction -shown and described.

Referring to Figs. l and 3, the frame I of the cigar enveloping machinecarries a shaft II on which a turret I2 is mounted to which intermittentmotion is imparted by a Geneva gear, not shown. A bracket I3 attached-toframe I0 carries a reel It supporting a roll R of Wrapping material fromwhich the web W is fed to a position adjacent one station of the turretI2 of the enveloping machine by the feed rollers I and I6 supported by abracket I'I fastened to frame Ill. The feed roller I5 is driven by bevelgears I8 and I9 from the clutch-controlled driven shaft 20 of theenveloping machine, and drives the feed roller I3 by means of spur gears2l and 22. Another shaft 23 carried by frame Ill supports a swingableknife 24 for cutting the web W, the knife 24 being actuated at theproper time by a crank arm 25 on shaft 23, a link 26, and a crank 21 ona shaft 28 to which is fastened a cam lever 29 having a cam roller 30 inengagement with a cam 3| on turret shaft I I. The web feed and cutterused on this machine are described in detail in United States Patent1,796,073 to Robert J. Beutel issued March 10, 1931.

The knife 24, when actuated by cam 3|, moves against a ledger plate 32,being held in contact 55 with the latter by a spring 33 placed on shaft23 between the frame I5 and a collar 34. The plate 32 is fastened toframe I5 and has extensions 35 reaching in between the feed rollers I5and I5 and serving as rear supports for the web W which is guided intowrapping position by an endless belt 35 driven by feed roller I5 andrunning over idlers 31, 55, 35 and 45 supported by brackets 4I and 42resting on frame I5. The lower edge of web W is supported by a guide 43fastened to frame I5.

The shaft 25 driving the feed roller I5 is slidable in a sleeve 44 whichrotates with it by means of a transverse key 45 passing through a slotof sleeve 44 and being connected to the movable member 45 of a clutch,the stationary member 41 of which is mounted on a continuously rotatingdrive shaft 45 concentric with shaft 25. The key 45 is fitted into adiametrical slot in the endof shaft 25 and its connection with clutchmember 45 is effected by a slotted collar 45 riding on sleeve 44 andfastened to the hub of member 45, which also rides on sleeve 44, byscrews 55, the key 45 tting into a diametrical slot in the end of hub ofclutch member 45 in alignment with the slots in shaft 25 and sleeve 44.The gear I5 driving gear I5 is keyed to sleeve 44 and thus rotates aslong as the clutch member 45 is held in engagement with clutch member 41by a coil spring 5I placed between a shoulder on sleeve 44 and collar45.

On its free end, the shaft 25 carries the armature 52 of anelectromagnet 53 which, for quick action, is made with a laminated core54. The electromagnet 53, on receiving an impulse from the circuit of aphotoelectric cell, attracts the armature 52, thereby disconnecting theclutch members 46 and 41 and stopping the feed of web W. To shaft 25 isattached a rod 55 engaging with one armv` of a double lever 55 pivotedon ashaft 51 supported by frame 55, the lever 55 being held inengagement with .rod 55 by a spring 55 bearing against the core ofelectromagnet 53. The other arm of lever 55 carries a roller "bearingagainst a contact spring 5 I. As soon as the armature 52 is attracted tothe electromagnet 53 by the action of a photoelectric cell connected toa suitable relay in the circuit of the electromagnet, as hereinafterdescribed, the lever 55 causes the contact spring 5I to move against acontact 52, thereby closing an independent holding circuit through arotary contact maker 53, Fig. 4, mounted on turret shaft Il, whichcircuit holds the armature 52 against the core 54 of electromagnet .53for a. definite portion of the operating cycle of the machine, thuskeeping the feed of web W arrested while the knife 24 is operated andthe out blank is carri-ed into the turret I2 by the advancing cigar C.The said contact maker consists of two angularly displaced stationaryinsulated contact brushes 54 bearing against a rotating surface composedof a metallic ring portion 53 and an insulating portion 55, the durationof the contact in each cycle depending upon the relative proportionbetween the two portions of the surface and upon the amount ofdisplacement of the brushes. A similar contact maker 53 mounted adjacentthe contact maker 53 on shaft Il is also placed in the impulse circuitof the electromagnet 53 to close and open it for 'the same duration asthe contact maker 53 so that the clutch 45, 41, cannot be affected byany impulses of the photoelectric circuit for a definite portion of theoperatan impulse from the photoelectric cell to energize theelectromagnet 53 and thereby stop the web feed.

'I'he photoelectric unit, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, consists of a housing 55, inwhich is mounted an incandescent lamp 51 and of a housing 55 containinga photoelectric cell or light-sensitive bridge" 55, these two housingsbeing placed at opposite sides of the web W and having tubes 15 and 1|extending from them towards the web which passes through the narrow slitbetween the ends of these tubes. In tube 15 is mounted a condensing lens12 and in tube 1I projecting lens 13, so that the light rays from lamp51 after passing through web W are concentrated upon th`e photoelectriccell 55 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The housings 55 and 55are supported by a frame 14, Figs. 1 and 2, which is settable both in`the horizontal and vertical direction to adjust for varying conditionsin the size of the article to bewrapped by the web W and in the desiredappearance of the finished package.

The web W may be of transparent material, suchas cellophane, with opaqueprintings P recurring thereon, or of opaque material such as metal foilor dark paper, with transparent printings, the light from the lamp 51being momentarily stopped by the printings P in the former case andmomentarily transmitted by them in the latter case.

The frame 14 is supported by vertical rods 15 sliding in sockets of abracket 15 and adjustable by means Vof a screw 11. The bracket 15 ismovable horizontally on a screw 15 supported in a bracket '15 attachedto reel bracket I3, the screw 15 being provided with a hand wheel 55 forthe adjustment of bracket 15, the horizontal motion of which is guidedby a bar 5| attached to bracket 15.

In Fig. 5 the diagram of the electrical connections is given foroperating this apparatus from a direct-current source of electricity.The incandescent lamp 51 is fed from the line 52 by wires 53, 54 througha resistance 55, the current returning by wire 55 to the line 51. Thephotoelectric cell 55 receives line current from wire 53 through abattery 55 and a high resistance 55, the current returning through wire55 to line 51. 'I'he current produced in the photoelectric cell 55 bythe photoelectric action of the light projected through lenses 12 and 13to cell 55 is ampliiied by a vacuum tube 5I and flows through alsensitive relay 52 which attracts the pivoted switch 52A and swings itaway from contacts 53. But when the light is intercepted by a printeddesign on the wrapper the current from the photoelectric cell isdiminished suiliciently to permit the switch 52A to swing downwardlyunder the inuence of gravity and close the contacts 53, therebypermitting a current to ow from line 52 through a' resistance 54,contacts 53, rotary contact maker 53', wire 55 and electromagnet 53 backto line 51 through connection 55. 'Ihe amplification circuit includes acondenser 51 and a high shunt resistance 55, the heating element of thetube 5I receiving current lfrom the line through resistances 55 and |55and the photoelectric cell ing connected to the grid of tube 5I. The'flow f current through electromagnet 53 caused by closing the contacts53 attracts the armature 52, thereby not only disengaging clutch 45, 41and stopping the rotation of web feed drive shaft 25, but also, by meansof roller 55, closing the contacts 5|, 52, so that now a current isestablished from line 52 through resistance 54,

wire Inl, rotary contact maker Il, wire |02, contacts 6., 62, wire I 03,electromagnet il and wire 98 to line 81. The latter current through theelectromagnet 53 does not depend upon the relay contacts 93 and flows aslong as the brushes M of contact maker 63 are in circuit, thus brakingthe shaft 20 immediately after the clutch I6 has been released by therelay current and holding it immovable during a given portion of theoperating cycle of the enveloping machine. A circuit from line 82through wire IM, high resistance |05 and wire 95, and through wire 96back to line I1, permanently supplies a small current to electromagnet53 for the purpose of balancing the initial pressure of spring I and ofpreventing sparking at the contacts 8| and 93.

When operating this improved registering device from an alternatingcurrent-line, the photoelectric cell 69 is supplied through a full-waverectifier, and the electromagnet 53 through a motor-generator fed by theA. C. source of electricity.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with means for feeding a web of wrapping materialhaving a recurrent design thereon, oi a source of light arranged toproject light onto said web, a photoelectric cell arranged to beilluminated by the light projected onto said web, electromagnetic clutchmechanism for stopping the web feeding means when a design on said webintercepts the light projected thereon, and an electrical circuitadapted to be closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter toact as a brake on said web feeding means and hold it immovable for apredetermined interval of time.

2. The combination with means for feeding a web of wrapping materialhaving a recurrent design thereon, of a source of light arranged toproject light onto said web, a photoelectric cell arranged to beilluminated by the light projected onto said web, electromagnetic clutchmechanism for stopping the web feeding means when a design on said webintercepts the light projected thereon, and an electrical circuitadapted to be closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter toact as a brake on said web feeding means and hold it immovable for apredetermined interval of time, said web feeding means including astationary guide for the lower edge of the web and an intermittentlydriven endless belt controlled by said clutch mechanism for feeding theweb along said guide.

3. The combination with means for feeding a web of wrapping materialhaving a recurrent design thereon, of a source of light arranged toproject light onto said web, a photoelectric cell arranged to beilluminated by the light projected onto said web, electromagnetic clutchmechanism for stopping the web feeding means when a design on said webintercepts the light projected thereon, an electrical circuit adapted tobe closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter to act as abrake on said web feeding means and hold it immovable for apredetermined interval of time, said web feeding mechanism including apair of cooperating web feeding rollers, intermeshing gears carried bysaid rollers, a shaft driven by said clutch mechanism, a bevel gear onsaid shaft, and a bevel gear on one of said feed rollers meshing withthe bevel gear on said shaft.

4. The combination with means for feeding a web of wrapping materialhaving a recurrent design thereon, of a source of light arranged toproject light onto said web, a photoelectric cell arranged to beilluminated by the light projected onto said web, electromagnetic clutchmechanism for stopping the web feeding means when a design on said webintercepts the light projected thereon, and an electrical circuitadapted to be closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter toact as a brake on said web feeding means and hold it immovable for apredetermined interval of time, said clutch mechanism including acontinuously rotating drive shaft, a clutch fixed on said drive shaft, adriven shaft geared to said web feeding means, a slotted sleeve on saiddriven shaft. a clutch member on said sleeve adapted to Vengage theclutch member on said drive shaft, a slotted collar fixed on the hub ofthe clutch member on said sleeve, a key xed in said driven shaft andextending through the slots in said sleeve and collar, a spring engagingsaid collar to press the clutch member on said sleeve into engagementwith the clutch member on said drive shaft.

5. The combination with means for feeding a web of wrapping materialhaving a recurrent design thereon, of a source of light arranged toproject light onto said web, a photoelectric cell arranged to beilluminated by the light projected onto said web, electromagnetic clutchmechanism for stopping the web feeding means when a design on said webintercepts the light projected thereon, an electrical circuit adapted tobe closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter to act as abrake on said web feeding means and hold it immovable for apredetermined interval of time, said clutch mechanism including acontinuously rotating drive shaft, a driven shaft, clutch members onsaid shafts, means for pressing the clutch members into engagement, andan electrical circuit connected to said photoelectric cell, anelectromagnet adapted to disengage said clutch members, and means foramplifying the current delivered from said photcelectric cell andconducting it to said electromagnet.

6. The combination with means for feeding a web of wrapping materialhaving a recurrent design thereon, of a source of light arranged toproject light onto said web, a photoelectrlc cell arranged to beilluminated by the light projected onto said web, electromagnetic clutchmechanism for stopping the web feeding means when a design on said webintercepts the light projected thereon, an electrical circuit adapted tobe closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter to act as abrake on said web feeding means and hold it immovable for apredetermined interval of time, said clutch mechanism including acontinuously rotating drive shaft, a driven shaft, clutch members onsaid shafts, means for pressing said clutch members into engagement, andan electromagnetic circuit connected to said photoelectric cell andincluding an electromagnet adapted to disengage said clutch members, arelay adapted to close the electromagnetic circuit when a design on thewrapper web intercepts the light projected into the web, and a rotarycontact maker for opening the electromagnetic circuit after apredetermined interval of time.

7. The combination with means for feeding a web of wrapping materialhaving a recurrent design thereon, of asource of light arranged toproject light onto said web, a photoelectric cell arranged to beilluminated by the light projected onto said web, electromagnetic clutchmechanism for stopping the web feeding means when a design on said webintercepts the light projected thereon, an electrical circuit adapted tobe closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter to act as abrake on said web feeding means and hold it immovable for apredetermined interval of time, said clutch mechanism including acontinuously rotating drive shaft, a driven shaft, clutch members onsaid shafts, and an electromagnet adapted to disengage said members whenenergized, and said electrical circuit including a spring contactadapted to be closed when said clutch members are disengaged and arotary contact member for opening said electrical circuit.

8. In a registering feed i'or continuous strip material, the combinationwith devices forfeeding the strip including coactingclutch elementsthrough which the strip is driven movable into and out of operativeengagement, electro-magnetic means for disengaging said elements. andbrake mechanism controlled by said means operating when the clutchelements are disengaged.

9. In a registering feed for continuous strip material, the combinationwith devices for feeding the strip including coasting clutch elementsthrough which the strip is driven movable into and out of operativeengagement, electro-magnetic means for disengaging said elements, brakemechanism controlled by said means operating when the clutch elementsare disengaged, said means including a magnet, an armature for saidmagnet connected to one oi.' said elements, and a braking surface movingwith the last mentioned clutch element, and a complementary brakingsurface positioned to-be engaged by said moving braking surface.

10. The combination with a photoelectric cell, of electromagnetic clutchmechanism controlled by said cell including a driven shaft, and anelectrical circuit adapted to be closed by said clutch mechanism forcausing the latter to act as a brake on the driven shaft when it isinoperative.

11. The combination with a photoelectric cell.

.- of electromagnetic clutch mechanism controlled by said cell, and anelectrical circuit adapted to be closed by said clutch mechanism forcausing the latter to act as a brake on a driven shaft when it isinoperative, said clutch mechanism including a continuously rotatingdrive shaft, said driven shaft, clutch members on said shafts, means forpressing said clutch members into engagement, and an electromagneticcircuit connected to said photoelectric cell and including anelectromagnet'adapted to disengage said clutch members, a relay adaptedto close the electromagnetic circuit and controlled by saidphotoelectric cell, and a rotary contact maker for opening theelectromagnetic circuit.

, 12. The combination with a. photoelectric cell, of electromagneticclutch mechanism controlled by said cell, and an electrical circuitadapted to be closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter toact as a brake on a driven shaft when it is inoperative, said clutchmechanism including a continuously rotating drive shaft, said drivenshaft, clutch members on said shafts, means for pressing the clutchmembers into engagement, an electromagnet adapted to disengage theclutch members, a photoelectric circuit connected to said photoelectriccell and electromagnet, and means in said photoelectric circuit foramplifying the current delivered from said photoelectric cell.

13. The combination with a photoelectric cell, of electromagnetic clutchmechanism controlled by said cell, and an electrical circuit adapted tobe closed by said clutch mechanism for causing the latter to act as abrake on a driven shaft when it is inoperative, said clutch mechanismincluding a continuouslyotatlng drive shaft, said driven shaft, clutchmembers on said shafts, and an electromagnet adapted to disengage saidmembers when energized, and said electrical circuit being vconnected tosaid electromagnet and including a spring contact adapted to be closedwhen said clutch members are disengaged and a rotary contact maker foropening said electrical circuit.

RDBERT J. BEUTEL.

